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Chandeliers and Chanel for Keira Knightley at the premiere of 'Anna Karenina'

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Leicester Square sparkled with chandeliers evocative of 19th-century Russian high-society, as stars turned out for the world premiere Anna Karenina.

Keira Knightley, the leading lady in the adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic love story, dazzled the crowds in a stunning vintage-feel peach Chanel gown, in keeping with her aristocratic character.

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In an interview with HELLO! Online, the Brit beauty said that it was "lovely" to work with Jude Law, whom she added was "very supportive".

Commenting on the film's theatrical setting, the 27-year-old described it as a "strange fantasy land". She added that this incredibly stylised version is "really exciting" and like "nothing we have seen before".

Keira admitted that the amount of research she did for the role intimidated her co-stars, who included Matthew Macfayden and Harry Potter's Domhnall Gleeson, and her copy of the novel quickly became filled with Post-it notes. "I'm very into stationary," she joked. "I think I frightened all the boys because I'd done so much homework. Or rather they could at least see the homework I'd done because I go for colourful Post-it notes. It terrified them."

Director Joe Wright, has worked with the starlet several times before, in 2005 on Pride and Prejudice and then on Atonement in 2007.

Anna Karenina stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Keira's love interest Count Vronsky, and Jude, 39, as Anna's old and sombre husband, a character quite different from his usual dashing roles. Despite being back to his leading man best, Jude joked that his transformation for the movie caused a fright at home. "My haircut didn't go down very well with my children. I think that's why I wore a hat for the best part of three months."